Watchdog launches TV phone-in inquiry

An official inquiry has been launched into all television programmes that use premium-rate telephone lines after a series of claims that viewers have been exploited.

More than 30 shows are already being investigated by watchdogs over specific allegations that they misled or overcharged callers or failed to count their votes.

But the telecoms regulator Ofcom announced yesterday that it was looking into all competitions, quiz channels and voting lines using premium-rate lines - which charge up to £1.50 a minute - because of "serious concerns" that rules governing the services are being broken.

Ed Richards, the chief executive, said: "Widespread concern about the use of premium-rate telephone lines by broadcasters and editorial standards in those programmes have raised serious questions about trust between broadcasters and viewers.

"Ofcom has been monitoring the issue closely and has launched a number of individual investigations. However, it is clear from the number of cases under way that a broader set of issues needs to be examined as a matter of priority."